US, allied forces launch EOD exercise HYDRACRAB

In a first-of-its-kind event, expeditionary forces from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States arrived in Guam August 14 to conduct Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training in exercise HYDRACRAB.

HYDRACRAB brings together more than 100 Sailors from four Indo-Pacific nations to sharpen skills and strengthen practical cooperation for EOD-related skillsets. The exercise takes place on Guam and around the Marianas Island Range Complex.

‘We are very excited to host our foreign partners and friends for the inaugural exercise HYDRACRAB 2019,” said Cmdr. Andrew Cook, EOD Mobile Unit 5 commanding officer. “This exercise serves as a unique opportunity to share tactics, techniques and procedures with integrated maritime and air assets that will help increase our collective warfighting effectiveness.”

Representing Australia are Royal Australian Navy personnel from Clearance Diving Team One and Four. Representing Canada are Royal Canadian Navy personnel from Fleet Diving Unit – Pacific. Representing Republic of New Zealand are Navy personnel from HMNZS Matataua Maritime Explosive Ordnance Disposal.

U.S. 7th Fleet provides security alongside allies and partners throughout a free and open Indo- Pacific. As the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed fleet, 7th Fleet operates roughly 50-70 ships and submarines and 140 aircraft with approximately 20,000 Sailors. C7F.NAVY.MIL